Completing - Help Needed

Gunderful

Hi,

Sorry for the 20 questions approach but would some like some help on the following questions. Background is we had an offer accepted approx 2 weeks ago to buy a semi.

1) Our solicitor has informed me that the seller's solicitors have just stated a completion date of 20th April (!!!) with exchange of contracts 1 week later due to the demands of the upward chain. This sounds completely unfeasible given the survey has not yet been done, what are my options?

2) The solicitor wants £100 to do environmental searches, planning apps, flooding etc. Does this seem reasonable and should they be doing it?

3) HIP does not have a current local authority search (its out of date). Therefore solicitor is asking for £120 for a full search or lender search insurance - a one off £85 fee. What should I do?

Thanks

caeler

1. Tell them how quickly you can move. 5 days time is silly if you've only just had the offer received. Had you appreciated how quickly they wanted to proceed and was your offer accepted on that basis?
2. Yes
3. Pay

You'll have to have the searches and the conveyencing sol normally does them. They should be sending you a schedule up front of everything you'll have to pay for, broken down.

Doozergirl

1) You're a bit muddled. Exchange is before completion but presuming they want to exchange next week(!) you'llsimply have to let them know that whilst you will go as quickly as you can, you simply won't be in the position to exchange on that date.
2) Yes of course. They can't profit directly fromsearches so their cost willbe passed directly to you.
3) For the difference in price you may as well do it again. However, it will take longer than an indemnity policy - so bearing in mind your timescales...

Get a move on with that survey! It doesn't sound like much has been done at all yet judging by the conversations you are having with your solicitor...